Contact:

Brooks Gump, Graduate Program Director, 315-443-2208, bbgump@syr.edu

The 36-credit hour master of science in Child and Family Health in the Global Community (CFHGC), is a key component of the educational programs comprising the College’s signature in public health.

Many threats to children’s health exist today-from biomedical challenges, such as infectious diseases, chronic illnesses and disabilities-to psychosocial challenges, such as child abuse and neglect. Ecological and cultural factors shape the meanings that health practitioners and families attribute to children’s health and illness, and how these connotations influence choices made regarding care practices, children’s exposure to potential dangers, requests for assistance, and responses to interventions.

The program incorporates the study of cultural health norms and practices, barriers and facilitators of family-health practitioner relations and how children define and interpret their symptoms, how they feel about themselves, and how they respond to treatment. The program will also integrate the study of historical experiences of ethnic groups (e.g., racial prejudice) and their culturally determined patterns of dealing with issues of health and illness.

The M.S. in Child and Family Health in the Global Community is a unique interdisciplinary academic program in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics that builds on expertise in areas including public health, child and family development, social work, nutrition, inclusive education and law. The faculty come from diverse backgrounds with extensive experience in the U.S., Caribbean, Canada, East Asia and the Middle East that will offer students valuable exposure to issues and lifestyles of these cultures. The varieties of faculty disciplines offer students more than the traditional perspective that will add in-depth knowledge from multiple perspectives.

This degree is designed to prepare graduates for health careers in a variety of local, national and international settings. The graduate training includes education in and outside the classroom. Students gain an in-depth understanding of health related factors that limit performance in schools and access to and use of legal and health systems for all individuals including those with physical disabilities. Graduates will be well-trained professionals in health and social policies; and program development, implementation, and evaluation. This combination of theory and practice allows students to work in policy, research, and service settings.

Unique Program Features

• A focus on prenatal and postnatal health disparities and their impact on life-long health;
• Understanding multi-faceted challenges (physiological, social, psychological) on children’s health;
• Ecological and cultural meanings of child health/well being and relationship to health practices;
• Inclusion of a scholarship-in-action perspective to learning;
• Inclusion of role of men and other caregivers in health-related behaviors and practices;
• Focus on developmental and ecological transitions along the life course;
• Addressing the challenges of children and families with mental health disabilities;
• An interdisciplinary approach to understanding child health and implementing health programs